Vital Signs Flashcards
What are the four ways we assess vital signs?
temperature (T)
respirations (R)
blood pressure (BP)
pulse (P)
body temperature is caused by:
cellular metabolism, the release of energy by cells
What is a normal temperature reading for oral?
37 C
98.6 F
What is a normal temperature reading for rectal?
37.6 C
99.6 F
What is a normal temperature reading for axillary?
36.4 C
97.6 F
What is a normal temperature reading for temporal (forehead)?
97.6 F
tympanic
very quick and accurate
hypothermia
temperature below 97 F
death occurs below 93 F
is useful in surgical procedures
hyperthermia
fever
death occurs above 108 F
What are other terms that describe a body fever?
pyrexia or febrile
What are the normal respiration rates for adults?
15-20 breaths per min
What are the normal respiration rates for neonates?
30-50 breaths per min
respiration
exchange between CO2 with oxygen in the alveoli
What are the four ways we can evaluate respiration?
rate
rhythm
depth
character (quality)
How do you count respirations?
1 respiration is count by one up and down movement of chest
abnormal respirations
crackles, fluid in chest
gurgles, fluid
wheezing, asthma
stridor sign
apnea
dyspnea
tachypnea
wheezing
breathing with a whistling or rattling sound
labored
struggling to breathe
apnea
stopping of breathing, especially during sleep
dyspnea
shortness of breath
tachypnea
abnormally fast breathing
bradypnea
abnormally slow breathing
orthopnea
breathing depends on position
pulse
pressure exerted against an arterial wall
What are the six different areas of the body we can assess pulse?
carotid
radial
brachial
temporal
femoral
pedal
What are the normal ranges for pulse in adults?
60-100 beats per min
What are the normal ranges for pulse in neonates?
90-140 beats per min
tachycardia
fast heart rate over 100 bpm
bradycardia
slow heart rate under 60 bpm
arrhythmia
irregular heart rate/pulse
thready pulse
weak pulse
bounding pulse
strong pulse
What are three ways we can evaluate pulse?
rhythm
quality
rate
What is the single most important vital sign to assess?
blood pressure
blood pressure
how well the arterial system is accepting the blood being pumped from the heart
systolic
top number
amount of pressure experienced by arteries while the heart beats
diastolic
bottom number
amount of pressure in the arteries while the heart is resting between heartbeats
hypertension
high blood pressure (systolic > 140 and/or diastolic > 90)
atherosclerosis
thickening of the arteries due to plaque buildup
occlusion
complete blockage of vessel
stenosis
narrowing of the vessel
hypotension
low blood pressure (systolic < 90, diastolic < 60)
What is average blood pressure range for adults?
120/80
hypoxemia
too little oxygen in the blood
hypoxia
too much oxygen in the blood
cyanosis
blueness of the skin due to low oxygen levels
What is the purpose of an oximeter?
to measure the amount of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood
angina
chest pain
fibrillation
irregular heartbeat
arteriosclerosis
hardening of the arteries
cardiomegaly
abnormal enlargement of heart
atelectasis
collapse of all or portion of lung
pneumothorax
free air in the lungs